zulu.2286.schoolprep
Is your child ready for school?
Should you be enrolling your child to start school next year? Here’s what you need to know to make the decision for your child...
THE thought of sending your child to school more than likely fills you with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. But how you prepare him (and yourself) for this occasion will go a long way to determining how successful and rewarding it will be for the child.
South African law currently states that a child may start school at the age of five-and-a-half if he or she turns six by June 30 of his Grade 1 year. The choice is yours.
However – a child must start school in the year he or she turns seven.
This is likely to change, as the general feeling among experts is a later start is better than an early one. As proof of this they point to the many children failing Grade 1.
“There’re no hard-and-fast-rules to determine whether a child is ready for school or not, but we have found an immature child doesn’t cope as easily with change,” says a teacher at one primary school.
“Maturity isn’t just about age,” she adds, “it’s also about background.Last year my youngest learner was my most capable child but, in general, the older ones are more able to sit still and absorb the information we give them.
“A mature child is easier to teach and makes progress more quickly.”
“Six is mature enough to start Grade 1, but there are some very bright five-year-olds,” adds Durban-based primary school teacher Ritta Mkisa.
“However, one of the challenges when they’re younger is that they’re defenceless against the bigger children and can be bullied, so a lot of teacher intervention may be required.”
“Older is better, simply because an older child is physically and mentally ready for the learning and teaching situation,” says teacher Markus Khanyase.
Maturity vs readiness
Joburg-based educational psychologist Melanie Hartgill says school maturity is when a child’s reached a level of development where he’s ready for the formal teaching of reading, writing and numeracy.
“This level is usually reached around the age of six and, because it relies on biological factors, can’t be hastened,” she notes.
However, reaching this level is no guarantee a child will be able to cope with the demands of school, and this is where school readiness enters the picture.
“School readiness considers the intellectual, social and emotional maturity levels of a child,” says Hartgill.
“While maturity can’t be influenced by external factors, school readiness can be encouraged by broadening a child’s experiences and teaching him to make full use of his senses and abilities.
“Initially this responsibility belongs to the parents, who’re the child’s first source of learning, but soon other people begin to play a role – from childminders to nursery school teachers as well as siblings and friends,” says Hartgill.
Preparing the child
Encouraging school readiness means teaching the child to recognise and name things around the house and to know his home telephone number, his age, date of birth, the days of the week, and so on, explains Markus Khanyase.
He says in order to prepare a child for school parents should teach their children to be independent.
“Good communication skills, respect for other pupils’ views, listening and sharing go a long way to helping your child cope with the new environment,” adds the teacher.
“If you’re unsure as to whether or not your child has the appropriate maturity and readiness, talk to her nursery school teacher, or go to an educational psychologist for a formal assessment. It’ll put your mind at rest and probably help your child in the long-run,“ advises Hartgill.
Readiness testing
“A school-readiness test is used to gather general information about a child, such as their level of understanding (by looking at pictures and identifying them), and also determining their level of discipline at home.
“If we find a child isn’t ready, we’ll recommend another year of pre-school, but parents have the final say,” explains one of the teachers we spoke to.
According to the Department Of Education, no child may be tested for school-readiness unless they’ve already been accepted by the school, but denying a child schooling because the child is not considered school-ready is considered discriminatory.
Which is pretty confusing, right? Perhaps that’s why the department is seeking to sidestep readiness issues by formulating legislation to make Grade R compulsory.
However, it should be noted that, as educational psychologists such as Melanie Hartgill point out, many children cope admirably with Grade 1 without having been to Grade R. Then there are those who do badly despite having gone through Grade R. [e]
Story: Thandi Zulu
STRAP
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Six is mature enough to start Grade 1
HELP YOUR CHILD GET READY
By the time children enter school for the first time they should be able to:
■ Follow simple instructions.
■ Write their first name and recognise their surname.
■ Count to 20 and recognise the numbers “1” to “10.”
■ Tell left from right.
■ Name basic colours and shapes.
■ Handle crayons, scissors and pencils.
■ Dress themselves, fastening zips, buttons and buckles and tying shoelaces.
■ Blow their nose and throw away the tissue, or put it back neatly in a pocket.
■ Know how to use the toilet on their own and how to wash their hands.
■ Identify their own belongings – satchel, clothing and lunchbox.
■ Know a contact phone number for a parent or guardian.
